Friday, February 17, 2017

When it comes to parenting, there are those important topics
typically addressed with children and teenagers. We all remember them well. But
in the growing web of talks about alcohol, drugs, economy, self-responsibility,
teen dating violence doesn’t usually make the list. Growing up, we remember the big topics like alcohol and drugs were easy
to approach but conversations around dating were not. Most parents
fumbled around searching for the right words when it came to dating,
which we can mostly laugh about now!

You might be asking yourself, in this day
and age where our society is raising strong independent women and self-assured
sensitive men, how can it be possible that teen dating violence is still a
problem? To start, the idea that strong-willed individuals couldn't possibly
experience abuse or that victims are only exclusive to women are thoughts that
still stand strong today. It’s still a problem because girls shouldn't walk
home alone at night and boys will be boys. It’s still a problem because prevention
efforts in school are a relatively new concept. It’s still a problem because
victims are shamed for coming forward. Those stigmas are powerful, and many
adults today feel like they know the issue without the education necessary to
fully understand. When you break down the reality of this silent epidemic,
you'll began to see why teen dating violence should be added to the list of
must-have conversations with youth today.

When assessing whether your teen might be in an unhealthy or
abusive relationship, educating yourself on the issue is step one. Since
February is Teen Dating Violence awareness month, what better time to do that
then now? Teenagers don’t want to admit that they need you during this
confusing time and will often result to peer advice to get them through. Some
of us can remember what that looked like- “You can’t get pregnant in a hot
tub.” Insert hand to forehead emoji.

Thankfully with numerous prevention
programs scattered throughout the U.S., healthy relationships and knowing your
rights has become the "in" thing. True story! And the numerous
campaigns that spread the mission are full of shiny tactics that help make the
movement comfortable and include challenging culture norms in media, taking a
hard look at sexual consent, and tools equipped to intervene when someone
witnesses abusive behaviors. A major barrier however is the ability for
teenagers to assess at-risk behaviors before the abuse happens.

It's natural to feel angry or frustrated with the situation,
but empowering your teen will ultimately be the key advantage in setting up
your family for success. With prevention programs in schools on the rise,
continuing efforts at home is crucial. Prevention efforts only have the
capacity to get the ball rolling, and the trick is to understand how, as
parents, you can continue the education at home. Prevention efforts, like the programs at Tahoe SAFE Alliance, include
doing one presentation a year which simply isn’t going to cut it. National
Public Radio published an article regarding the importance of starting these conversations
earlier than you would expect- To
Prevent Sexual Assault, Schools and Parents Start Lessons Early. As the
word prevention implies, the idea is to stop teen dating violence before it
happens. Apart from factors that we don’t have control over, there’s still an
immense amount of room for growth in this area. Recognizing that the problem
does happen in your community is a major step in the right direction. Feeling a
little overwhelmed? Check out some of these online resources that will help
boost your confidence and get the conversation started!

·joinonelove- created fun animation skits that show what is
healthy and unhealthy

·BecauseI Love You... is a very powerful PSA also put on by joinonelove.org that
shows how charming abuse can be.

·WarningSigns- this excellent guide breaks down warning signs and even approaches
whether your teen might be an abuser

Teen dating violence is not an after school special.
Violence doesn’t only happen in the form of physical harm. It is often
discreet, charming, and hidden behind some very powerful emotions that, when
not understood, can appear to look like love. As a unified community we can
make the difference. Tahoe SAFE Alliance Community Education and Prevention
Program is present in nearly every school in the north Tahoe and Truckee area.
To find out when we’ll be presenting at your children’s school and learn more
about what we’re addressing, feel free to contact us directly and we’d love to
share that information with you. Contact the Prevention Program Manager at trisha@tahoesafealliance.org or call 775-298-0010.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

One Billion Rising…really…one billion?That’s right, 1 in 3 (or one billion) women
and girls across the globe will be beaten or raped in their lifetime.

So
now one billion rise up each year and stand against the violence! The One
Billion Rising campaign began in 2013 as a worldwide creative dance protest
with Eve Enzler (creator of the Vagina Monologues) at the helm.Although the campaign has morphed into
various events worldwide, North Tahoe’s One Billion Rising has held true to its
roots by gathering in downtown Truckee and dancing in solidarity to end
violence against women.

For
the past 3 years, hundreds of men, women and children have showed up to
participate by joining in the flash mob, holding signs, cheering and supporting
their community! The excuses you don’t know how to dance or don’t know this
specific dance don’t fly around here.If
you care about the safety of your world, your community, your friends, your
family, then come to the Truckee Train Depot at 3:30pm sharp Tuesday, February
14th!Dancing
is encouraged, but optional, and you can learn the dance ahead of time at Inner
Rhythms dance studio on February 12th, or online.

Dancing
in unison can be visually, individually, spiritually and organizationally empowering,
but don’t let two left feet get in your way of connecting with your community
and taking action!Take 10 minutes out
of your Valentine’s Day and be part of something bigger, something happening
all around the world on the same day, something that shows you care about
ending violence.Take a step toward
making a difference in the world, and be one of the One Billion Rising!